Improvement in apparatus for desulphurizing ores



lPatented Sept. 5, 1876. A

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l vuzenim:

N,PETERS, FH

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE( WILLIAM O. DAV-IS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORk OF ONE- FOURTH HIS RIGHT TO CHARLES H. STUART, OF BOSTON, MASS.

IMPROVEMENT`IN APPARATUS l-l'OR DESULPHURIZING vQRES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 181,776, dated September 5, 1876; applicationiled July 28, 1876. i

To all whom it may concern.'

i Beit known that I, WILLIAM OTIS DAVIS, of the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented Acertain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Desulphurizing Orcs, &c., of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for desulphurizing pulverized ores by theapplication of heat, which shall be continuons and automatic in its operation, and

shall further provide such facilities for athorough exposure of the ores tothe direct action of the heat as will, as far as'- practicable, reduce the duration of the operation, and insure its satisfactory result.

To this end my improvements consist in the combination of a revolving cylinder or chest having an internal screw-conveyer, a series of agitator-blades connected with the screw-conveyer, an inlet hot-air ue, and a draft-chamber and partition, arranged to prevent the escape of light particles of ore, all as hereinafter more fully set forth. y

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view, mostly in section, of an apparatus embodying my improvements; and Fig. 2, a transverse section of the chest.

To carry out the object of my invention I provide a chest or casing, A, of cylindrical or polygonal form, which is preferably made of stout sheet metal, strengthened by exterior bands or braces, and is supported in a horizontal or inclined position on friction-rollers b, mounted in bearings in a frame, B, at suitable points in the length of the chest, collars a, secured to the periphery of the latter, bearing upon the rollers. A spiral blade of metal, tile, or tire-clay, constituting a screw-con veyer, A', is secured to the inside ofthe chest A, extending from one end to the other thereof. The depth of this plate may be, say, one-fourth of the internal diameter of the chest A, so that an unobstructed central space will be left in the same from end to end for the passage of heated gases. A series of agitatorblades, a', are secured to the inner surface of the chest, between the threads of the screwconveyer, each of the blades extending from one thread to another, and being, say, onein a box or case, 0, to which the pulverizedV ore is supplied through a spout, C', and a Hue,

D', leads from a furnace, D, into the receiving end of the chest, being extended for a lshort distance therein along the central space. The upper or delivery end ofthe chest extends into an opening in a discharge chamber or box, E, divided into-two compartments by a partition, E', the lower being provided with atight-fitting door, e, and the upper opening into a draft-chamber, F, in which is placed a tight partition, F1, extending entirely across the ,chamber from its` top downward for the.

major portionof its depth, leaving a free opening at bottom, thus constituting a hydraulic trap. The bottom of the chamber is, by preference, inclined, and is provided at its lowest point with a valve or sluice, f. An exhaustfan or other suitable exhausting device, F2, communicates with the top ot' the chamber F, on that side of the partition F1 which is farthest from the chest A. A counter-shaft, G, is mounted in bearings g, in convenient relation to the chest A, and carries a spur or bevel pinion, G', which meshes with a corresponding gear, A2, on the periphery of the chest A, for the rotation of the latter by the application of power to the counter-shaft.

In the operation otl the apparatus the draftchamber F is lled with water to a point between the partition E' and the bottom of the partition F1, and the valve f is closed.. The chest A is rot-ated in the direction of the arrow, and an upward draft is maintained in the chamber F by the exhaust-fan F2, the action of the exhaust-fan tending to raise the level ofthe water on the side ofthe partition F1 nearest to it, and depress that upon the opposite side to a point at or below the bottom of the partition, so as to enable the escaping gases to pass through the water without carrying off particles of ore.

Fire is maintained in the furnace D of suiiicient intensity to impart to the products of combustion, which enter the chest A through the iue D', a temperature of 4000 Fahrenheit y or upward, as may be required by the particular ore operated upon. The pulverized ore, which is supplied to the chest through the spout C, is carried through the chest and delivered into the lower compartment ofthe box E by the screW-conveyer A', and in its traverse through the chest is elevated in small portions at a time from the lower to the upper side of the chest by the agitator-blades a/ thence falling by its own gravity through theY heated currents, to be again 'elevated and dropped, and so on until its discharge into the box E, thus being thoroughly and continuously exposed to the action of the heat.

The desulphurized ore is withdrawn from time to time through the door e. Such of the lighter portions of the ore as may be carried up by the draft into the upper compartment of the box E will be deposited in the water resting in the draft-chamber F, being prevented from escaping with the exhaust by the partition F1, and may be withdrawn, as re quired, by the valvef.

It is obvious that the apparatus is continuous and automatic in its operation, the ore being supplied continuously and not in separate charges, and requiring no manipulation in its traverse of the apparatus.

,The drawings show the chest in an inclined position, for the purpose of enabling it to fultill the additional function of an elevator, discharging the desulphurized ore at a higher level than that at which it is supplied; but if such elevation should not be desirable, the` chest may be placed in a horizontal position Without interferingwith the normal operation.

The apparatus is, further, well adapted for use as a chlorinator without any change of its parts, and may, with certain modifications, be rendered adaptable for use as an amalgamator, the conveyer and agitator-'blade'servin g to effect an intimate mixture of the ore with the mercury. l v

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, in an apparatus for desulphurizing ores, &c., of acylinder or'chest, an internal screW-conveyer blade, and a series of agitator-blades placed between the threads of the screw-conveyer, and extending from one thread to the other, so as to raise the pulverized ore as they revolve with the cylinder, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in an apparatus for desulphurizing'ores,-&c., of acylinder or chest, a hot-air tlue communicating with the receiving end thereof, a draft-chamber communicatving with the delivery end, and-anI exhaust-fan and hydraulic trap, substantially as set forth.

3. The cornbinatiominv an apparatus for desulphurizing ores, &c., of a cylinder or chest, a'discharge-chamber divided horizontally into two compartments, and a draft-chamber communicatingwith the upper compartment of the discharge-chamber, substantially as set forth.

` `WM. OTIS DAVIS.

Witnesses:

J. SNOWDEN BELL, JNO. V. PAxToN. 

